Sectional portiere.



I.. W. BRUEGGEIVIAN.

SECTIONAL PORTIERE.

. APPLICATION FILED APR. 3. 1915. Patented June 19,

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

1HE NnNRls FEERS G0.. PHOTO-1.11045., wAsMtNcmN. D. C.

L. W. BRUEGGEhlMN` SECTIONAL PORTIERE.

APPLICATION FILED APR- 3, 1915. 1,230,271 I Patented June 19, 1917.

2 SHEETS-*SHEET 2.

i o) W m m .0 v l l w N UNrrnsD srafrns PATENT ernten.

LOUIS W. IBRUEGGEMAN, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

sEcrIoNAI. PORTIRE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 19, 1'917.

Application l'edfApril 3, 191.5. Serial No. 18,948.

ture which shall be capable: of adjustmentA for positioning in varioussized doors, archways, windows and the like by means-of sectionalinserts.

It is a cordinate object to provide a porltiere structure of the typeset forth which may be immediately augmented or reduced in.` widthwithout the use oftools inA fulfillingl the adjustment featureslofi thisinvention.

A further object is to provide. slidable means whereby the portieres orcurtains may be hung or as readily removed, While it is also animportant aim to render a completed structure artistically uniform insuch man-V ner as to leave no suspicionof its sectional character. f

The above and additional objects which will become apparent as thisexplanatory description proceeds are accomplished byy Such means as areillustrated in the accompanyingv drawings, described in the following.specification and then more particularly pointed out in the claims whichare appended hereto and form a part of this application.Y lVithreference to the drawings, wherein there is illustrated the preferredembodimentof thisvinvention as it is reduced to practice, and throughout`the several views of which like character of references designatesimilar parts Figure 1v is anzelevation of an interior` doorway which isspanned by the sectional portire of this invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through the portirestructure showing* the manner of securing the. sec- Y tions, Y

Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sectional 55 views taken on the respectivelines 3-3 and 4.-4 0f Fig; 2,

Fig. 5 is a sectional viewv taken through oni,1 of the portire orcurtain fabric strips, an

Fig. 6 is a perspective detail of the hanger bracket in which thestructure is removably supported.

ln the embodiment of this invention, the complete portiere is made up ofa number of separate portions, each portion comprising a section 10 or11, means carried by the sections for connecting one to another and forSupporting the portiere in position, and depending fiexible strips 35hanging from the sections and forming the curtain part ofthe portire, asillustrated in the drawf ings, there is employed a pair of main sections 10 which may be joined to and spaced by any number of intermediatesections 11 according to the width of the door, archway or window whichit is desired to span. Considering the section 11 as one unit of theSectional portire,'iti will be seen'that the main sections 10 areillustrated as having a length of four such units but it is to beunderstood that these main sections may bear any ratio to the singleunit or may even be dispensed with when the entire structure is built upof a number of jointed single units.

By reference to Figs. 2, and 3, it will be seen that each of the mainsections includes a pair of parallel frame members 12 and 13, each ofwhich is formed intermediately with a mortise groove 14. The framemembers of each of the main sections are separated and maintained inspaced alinement by means of rectangular metallic sheathing 15 which isseated firmly in each mortise groove 14 at the extremity-of each ofthese main sections 10. Through one of these hollow sheathings there isslidable the telescoping metallic sheath 16 which has extendingtherethrough flush with the outer end but projecting beyond the innerend thereof a beam 17 preferably constructed of wood in order to receivethe enlarged handle staple 1S which is adapted to project upwardly fromthe slidable beam above the upper surface of the frames 12 and 13 andbetween the same as is best illustrated in Fig. 3. This handle 18 servesto limit outward movement of the sheathing beam 17 by abutting the fixedsheathing 15 while the portion of this beam extensible beyond the edgeof the frame members is adapt ed to be received by the door or windowbracket 19 formed with the central aperture 20 of such shape as toaccommodate the said projecting end. Any desirable fastening means mayeXtend through the apertures 21 of this bracket in order to'secura Ythesame permanently to the inner face of the door or Window frame 22.

The foregoing describes how one end of each of the sections 10 issupported. Their inner ends spaced by one or more'sections 11 aresupported by the latter through the medium of lateral connections. Thesheathing 15 of one of the sections 10, accordingly,- supports a fixedmale sheath 23 adapted to extend beyond the said inner end in a mannerdifferentiable from the telescopic sheath 1G only by reason of itsstationary position. A short beam 211 is also used with this fixedsheath and serves a purpose to be hereinafter more fully setforth.

Each of the sections 11 is similarly formed with apair of side members25 and 2G dif-- fering from the members 12 and 13 only in the matter oflength, that of the sections 11 being the unit length of the sectionalportiere. A lining or sheathing 27 also lines a mortise groove 2S incontinuance of the groove 14 in order to receive the extended end of themale sheath 23. This section is also formed with a male sheath 29 toproject beyond its opposite end and to perform a similar function to thesheath 23 when being received within the inner end of the remaining mainsection 10.

These male sheaths insure support of the intermediate'sections and ofthe inner ends of the main sections but latches 30 must be employed toprevent lateral displacement of the sections, such latches being pivotedto the respective frames 13 and 25 as indicated by the numeral 31 tocooperate with keepers 32 carried Yon the appropriate extremity of theintermediate section and the right hand main section. Each of theselatches which may take the form illustrated or any desirable shapeprojects above the adjacent upper edges of the respective section framemembers and may be formed with notches 33 whereby their manual releaseis facilitated from engagement with the keepers 32, the filling beam 24and the section sheathing 27 serving to support these latches in theirdisengaged positions.

From the foregoing it will be clearly understood in what manner thesectional portires are supported and adjusted to fit doorways, Windowsor interior arches of various sizes, it being readily understood thatthe describedsection 11 is a type of all the intermediate sections whilethe main sections 10 may bear any desired lengthratiothroughtheseintermediate sections. Upon reference to Fig. 1, it will be apparentthat each'of the sections 1() is subdivided by scored lines 34 in orderto present an outward appearance simulating the single unit sections 11rendering the addition or removal of one such unit section unnoticeableby an inspection of the entire portiere structure.

It will be obvious that where the unit Yidea of a sectional portierestructure is carried out in the manner disclosed in the foregoing thatthe portieres or curtains supported by such structure must conform in asimilarly unified manner. For this reason the specific disclosure of theportiere structure presentedby this invention is believed to bedependent upon the underlying basis furnished by the sectional portiereor curtain structure previously disclosed.

Accordingly, the portieres or curtains have been designedv upon themultiplicity unit system being made of a number of separate portionseach of which portions comprises a section 10 or-11 and one or moredepending-flexible strips 35 hanging therefrom. The section 11 serves asthe unit width of oneV of said separatefportions and supports a singlestrip 35. The sections 10 are shown as having a width of fourv suchunits and sustaining four flexible strips 35. Sections of two, three,five or more unit widths will carry strips in proportionfto their widthsAs showny inthe drawings,

the strips y35 are made ofy cloth or other fabric of any ornamentalvmaterial such as silk, velvet, plush, wool or cotton and the like andare fastened-between the members 12 and 13 of the sections 10 andbetween the similar members 25 and 26 of the unit sections 11 throughthe medium of bolts, brads, tacks or other fasteners 36 which arepreferably positioned in the center of the lower portion of eachv of thereal or simulated sections as is clearly shown in Fig.` 1. These:strips` are of a width somewhat less than those of the sections anddepend therefrom in various lengths supportingpanels 37 which aresecured front and back to these dependent strips and arepreferablyformed of a thin wood or veneer stained to lit with the decorativekey-note of the particular room or rooms in which they are placed. Asshown these shieldsor vpanels and their supporting strips do notobstruct the central entrant portion of the door or Windowframe 22 toany considerable extent and being light and pivotally mounted by thefasteners 36 may be easily brushed aside at the passage of a personalthough always returning to their uniform position asillustrated. Itwill be understoodthat the assemblage of a portire structure in themanner disclosed will carry out the sectional unit idea in every detailand the number of units -11 positioned between end sections 10 will inno particular destroy thevartistic uniformity of the entire device.

While in the foregoing however, there has thusY been illustrated in thedrawings and described in the specication such .combina-- tionandvarrangement of elements as constitute thev preferred embodiment ofthis invention, it is desired to emphasize the fact that such minorchanges in the matters of proportion and degree may be made in lateradaptations of this device as shall fall within the scope of theappended claims.

I/Vhat is claimed is: j

1. A portire comprising a plurality of separable portions, each portionincluding an independent rigid section, said sections adapted to beconnected one to another endwise for self-support and to extend across awindow or door frame, and means projecting from the extremities of theconnected sections for supporting the portire in position.

A portire comprising end portions and an intermediate portion, eachportion including a rigid section, the ends of which sections areconnected one to another endwise to extend acrossa window or door frameand form a unitary article, means projecting from the extremities ofsaid connected portiere sections for supporting the same, and lockingmeans between the sections.

3. A portire comprising a plurality of separable portions, each portionincluding a rigid section, which sections are adapted to be connectedone to another endwise to extend across a window or door opening, eachof said sections being formed of spaced Aaarallel bars and a tubularmember sustained between said parallel bars at each end thereof, atelescopic support for connecting the adjacent ends of said sections,and projecting members at the extremities of the connected sections forsupporting the same.

4. A portire comprising end sections and an intermediate sectionseparably connected together to extend vacross a door or window opening,each of said sections being formed of two parallel strips connectedtogether, each strip having` a facing groove to seat a telescopicconnecting member for the adjacent section, fastening means between thesections for holding them securely after being connected, and meansprojecting from the ends of the connected sections for sustaining theportire and depending strips.

5. In a portire structure, end sections, manually operative slidablemeans for supporting one end of each section, each of said sectionsbeing formed to represent a number of assembled unit sections,intermediate unit sections, projecting means vertically supportingadjacent sections, latch means preventing lateral displacement of theadjacent sections, and dependent portire strips secured to each of saidreal or simulated unit sections extending uniform distances from saidunit sections and varying distances from said simulated sections.

7. In a portiere structure, end sections in- Y cluding spaced framemembers subdivided onA their faces to represent unit sections,intermediate unit sections each including mating spaced frame members,means slidable between said members at one end of each of. said firstsections to removably support the same, means projecting similarly fromadjacent sections to vertically support said .in-v

termediate sections, latch means coacting between said adjacent sectionsto prevent lateral displacement thereof, portire fabric strips dependingfrom each of said real or simulated sections, and decorative panelsspaced on each strip.

8. In a portire structure, end sections including spaced frame membersprovided with facing grooves, the outer faces of said members beingscored to represent assembled unit sections, intermediate unit sectionsincluding mating frame members similarly grooved, a metallic sheathingat each end of said end sections and lining the groove of said unitsections, means slidable through the sheathing of one end of each ofsaid first sections to support the structure, and means projectingsimilarly from adjacent sections to horizontally support said unitsections, keepers carried on adjacent sections, and latches pijvoted formanual operation to engage saidkeepers in preventing lateraldisplacement of all of said sections.

9. In a portire structure, end sections including spaced frame membersprovided with facing grooves, the outer faces of said members beingscored to represent assembled unit sections, intermediate unit sectionsincluding mating frame members similarly grooved, a metallic sheathingat each end of said end sections and lining the groove of said unitsections, means slidable through the sheathing ofone end of each of saidiirst sections to support the structure, and means projecting similarlyfrom adjacent sections to horizontally support said unit sections,keepers carried on adjacent sections, latches pivoted for manualoperation to engage said keepers in preventing lateral displacement ofall of said sections, portire fabric strips depending from each of saidreal or simulated sections, and decorative panels spaced on each strip.

10. In a portire structure, the combinamembers at each end of saidsections and in said grooves, a slidable sheath through said sheathingat one end of each of said sections, intermediate unit sections,Asheaths projecting fromadjacent sections to support said intermediatesections, keepers carried by adjacent sections, latches pivoted formanual operation to releasably engage said Copies of this patent may lieobtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,Y.

keepers, handle means carried by said slidable means to move the latterinto engagement With the apertures of respective brackets, portirefabric strips pivoted centrally of each real or simulated unit sectiondepending therefrom uniformly for said intermediate sections andvariously for said end sections, and decorative shields carried spacedlyupon said strips.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.Y

LOUIS W. BRUEGGEMAN.

Witnesses:

Ensim M. Ho'rz, ALBERT F. I-IINZ.

Washington', '.D. C.

